Chapter 246 – Regional Elite
"Behind you! Poliwrath, use Ice Punch!"
Red had already opened his Mind's Eye. In that state of absolute concentration, he could lock onto Beedrill's presence at every moment.
When Beedrill created a Substitute, Red had already noticed, and he shouted his command instantly.
Poliwrath, who trusted Red unconditionally, spun around in the blink of an eye and slammed his frozen fist against Beedrill's poison-tipped lance.
Bang!
A muffled impact rang out as Poliwrath was knocked back violently.
The gap in power was simply too vast!
Poliwrath tumbled across the field. By the time he managed to stand again, purple streaks had spread across his body.
Poisoned!
After Mega Evolution, Beedrill's twin lances carried deadly venom.
With every passing second, the poison seeped deeper into Poliwrath's body, slowing him down until at last, a single thrust from Beedrill brought him crashing down.
"Poliwrath is unable to battle! Beedrill wins!"
"Whoaaa!!"
The referee's announcement was drowned out by the roaring cheers of the crowd.
The match was decided.
Yozora had defeated Red and advanced into the finals—the last step before the championship.
"Poliwrath, you did well." Red sighed helplessly as he recalled his partner. Just then, the pouring rain ceased.
The storm clouds dispersed, and sunlight flooded the battlefield.
Red drew in a deep breath. The gloom in his heart faded, and he smiled as he congratulated Yozora.
Clap clap clap…
Thunderous applause erupted from the stands, and countless fans shouted Red's name in adoration.
There was no doubt—
Even though Red had lost, his strength had already conquered the hearts of the audience.
That night, Yozora threw himself into preparing for the final showdown.
Ash and his friends, along with Ryūnan and the others, all served as his strategists, analyzing his final opponent and offering advice.
Red, however, slipped away without saying goodbye.
That was simply his way—coming and going like the wind. And the next time they met, Yozora had no doubt he would be stronger still.
Because of Red's existence, Yozora constantly felt the weight of pressure. He knew well how terrifying that man was—simple, pure, yet utterly focused.
If Yozora relaxed even for a moment, he would be overtaken without mercy.
A week later, the Indigo League finals began on schedule.
His opponent was formidable, with a track record of reaching the quarterfinals and even semifinals in multiple regional tournaments.
Yet with his team of Beedrill, Buzzwole, Charizard, Golduck, Aegislash, and Gengar, Yozora still secured an easy victory—claiming the Indigo League Champion's title!
"Wow, Yozora!"
"Yozora, I love you!"
"Charizard is unbeatable!"
"Buzzwole is number one in the world!"
The stadium shook with ecstatic cries.
At the moment Yozora raised the championship trophy, standing proudly with his victorious team, he received not only glory but the worship of countless fans.
Yozora—sixteen years old, one year since debut, a Rookie Trainer—and already the Indigo League Champion!
This overwhelming, nearly suffocating achievement instantly made Yozora a household name throughout Kanto, officially recognized as a Regional Elite.
"Ding. Congratulations to the Host for completing the achievement quest [Regional Elite]. All of your Pokémon gain +1 Ability slot."
"Now issuing a new achievement quest: [World Powerhouse]. Task requirement: Enter the World Championship and place on the 'Master Ball' ranking. Quest reward: All of your Pokémon gain +1 Ability slot!"
The system's voice echoed.
At that moment, all of Yozora's Pokémon possessed four Ability slots each—
One from the start.One from the system's activation.One from debuting as a Rookie.And one from achieving Regional Elite.
On top of that, if Yozora formed a Bond Phenomenon with a Pokémon, like Beedrill or Charizard, they would unlock an additional slot.
In other words—
Bond Pokémon had five slots.
Newer members without such bonds still had four.
"The World Championship, huh…" Yozora murmured. The new achievement had begun: World Powerhouse.
But there was a catch—participation required a minimum age of eighteen.
That meant Yozora could not yet compete.
And truthfully, even if he did, he would only be crushed. The World Championship was filled with countless powerhouses, and those at its summit—the Master Ball tier trainers—were none other than Leon, Steven, Cynthia, and their ilk.
They were the true Champions.
Yozora was only a League Champion. League Champions arose every year, in every region.
The tournament ended in triumph.
One week later, at Professor Oak's Laboratory—
Sitting across from Professor Oak was a refined woman. She had shoulder-length black hair, snow-white skin, and wore black-rimmed glasses that gave her an air of mature intelligence.
For Professor Oak to personally host a guest, she had to be someone extraordinary—outside of Pallet Town locals, very few were afforded such treatment.
"It's Lorelei. The Ice-type Elite Four member Lorelei!" Oak's assistants were almost trembling with excitement, though Oak himself remained calm.
Lorelei sipped her coffee gracefully before speaking.
"Professor Oak, how much do you know about Yozora? Could he possibly be a member of Team Rocket?"
Oak shook his head firmly.
"Absolutely impossible. I've watched Yozora grow up since he was a child. From a young age, he displayed astonishing talent in academics. At the age of ten, he became my research assistant, working with me until he left at fifteen to pursue his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.
"You've seen his talent, his ability, his strength. His future shines brighter than anyone's. Why would he ever join the shadows of Team Rocket?"
Lorelei nodded slightly, but her brows furrowed deeper.
"Perhaps… but his methods are ruthless. They mirror those of Team Rocket."
She recounted the Seafoam Islands incident, their first encounter, and the events within the cavern.
"It was clearly the work of Beedrill and Gengar. Add to that his presence nearby, and I can say with certainty—those men died at his hands," she said.
Professor Oak frowned deeply.
In his eyes, Yozora was always a humble, polite boy. It was difficult to reconcile that image with Lorelei's description.
"But isn't that a good thing? If those men were Rocket members, then didn't Yozora simply rid the world of villains?"
Still, Oak shook his head.
"All I can say is this: I stake my honor on Yozora being a good lad. He is no Rocket. As for his methods… You must remember, he is the son of a hero. His father was a renowned Interpol officer who gave his life fighting criminals. You can imagine how deeply Yozora must despise Team Rocket."
Lorelei nodded again. Since Professor Oak vouched for him personally, she let the matter drop.
If Yozora truly betrayed them, Oak would be the first to hold him accountable.
And Lorelei knew very well how strong Professor Oak truly was.
"Oh, one more thing, Professor. Please tell Yozora—every Champion of the Indigo League is granted the right to challenge the Elite Four once."
(End of Chapter)