Tinkaton's spectacular display of spinning and smashing Steelix left the audience in awe. It was the very definition of "brutal elegance."
People had seen hammers swung, rocks thrown, but tossing a Steelix like a toy? That was a first.
With this triumph, Johan received the Luck Symbol from Lucy, marking his conquest of the Battle Pike.
From this day forth, who would dare claim Johan wasn't a luck god?
Lucy, as always, didn't have much to say. She simply offered her congratulations and left the stage quickly.
But no one's feelings about the match were as mixed as Scott's.
He had braced himself for some arena damage — that was par for the course with Johan's battles.
What he hadn't prepared for was the utter destruction of the Battle Pike as a facility.
Cracked walls, a ceiling on the brink of collapse, and a floor that looked like it had survived an earthquake.
Only now did Scott truly understand the saying: "Reputation is earned."
Johan's reputation as the "Battlefield Wrecker" wasn't just talk.
Still, the surge in popularity was undeniable. The livestream had brought countless eyes to the Battle Frontier.
As Tinkaton strutted out of the Battle Pike with its hammer slung over its shoulder, proudly wearing the Luck Symbol, the audience erupted into cheers.
Night had fallen by the time Johan and his group left.
Rather than checking into a hotel, Steven invited the group to stay at a luxury resort owned by the Devon Corporation in the Battle Frontier.
It wasn't a typical resort. It featured beautifully preserved natural environments alongside spacious, standalone wooden cabins.
The setup allowed guests to enjoy the outdoors while still sleeping comfortably indoors.
As night fell, Johan, his Pokémon, and the others gathered around a campfire outside their cabin.
The warm glow of the fire painted their faces orange as they chatted beneath the glimmering night sky.
"You've been holding out on us, Steven," Flannery grumbled playfully. "This place is amazing."
Steven rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"I only found out about this resort today. My father saw Johan's stream earlier and mentioned it."
"Your dad watches the stream?" Roxanne asked, raising an eyebrow.
Steven nodded with a grin.
"He's a big fan of Johan's. He even sent fifty Dragonite gifts in the chat earlier."
Johan winced.
Fifty Dragonite gifts?!
Why not just transfer that money to him directly? After all, the livestream earnings went to Scott, not him.
Flannery chuckled to herself.
Maybe I should convince Grandpa to send a few gifts too… That way, Johan won't "accidentally" destroy Lavaridge Gym when he visits.
Johan, meanwhile, was busy preparing snacks over the campfire.
With Flannery's Torkoal providing the perfect level of heat, the Pokémon gathered eagerly around him.
Pokémon-style teatime was in full swing.
The sound of sizzling food filled the air.
"Alright, it's ready!"
Johan began handing out snacks to his team, making sure each Pokémon got their share.
[Johan, delicious! Johan, delicious!]
Jirachi floated in circles, its ribbons twirling with joy as it munched on its treat.
Even Torkoal, who was usually quite stoic, let out a contented hum when Johan handed it a special portion.
Seeing her Torkoal so happy, Flannery sighed.
"Johan, you're so good to every Pokémon. No wonder they all adore you."
"It's not just Pokémon," Steven chimed in with a smile. "People admire him too."
After dinner, Johan leaned back against Alolan Ninetales, gazing at the starry sky.
The Pokémon played together in the yard.
"Higher! Throw me higher!"
Jirachi's giggles filled the air as Tinkaton gleefully tossed it higher and higher into the sky, its hammer lying momentarily forgotten on the ground.
Meanwhile, Gengar was off in the corner, sipping tea brewed with Energy Roots and regaling the other Pokémon with exaggerated stories.
"Ka-kah…"
Back when the world was young… I, the great Gengar…
It had a natural flair for storytelling, and even the most serious Pokémon, like Metagross and Aggron, were drawn in.
The night was filled with laughter, warmth, and camaraderie, echoing through the resort as the group rested under the ancient comet's glow.
On the third day of the comet's appearance, Johan awoke with a start.
A suffocating sensation had jolted him awake.
When he reached up, he realized Jirachi's ribbon had somehow ended up draped over his face.
Taking a deep breath, he chuckled softly.
"Phew… For a second, I thought a Snorlax had rolled onto me."
Looking up, he noticed Gengar snoozing contentedly on the ceiling.
Guess it slept well, he thought, nodding in approval.
By the time he got up, the Pokémon were already raring to go.
[Johan, what are we playing today?]
Jirachi, who had been unusually well-behaved last night, hovered around him excitedly.
"We've still got a lot of facilities left to clear," Johan mused as he sipped his coffee.
Yesterday, he had conquered the Battle Tower and the Battle Pike.
Now, only the Battle Palace, Arena, Dome, Factory, and Pyramid remained.
"Not the Pyramid," he muttered to himself.
With Brandon guarding it, the Pyramid was the one facility he had no confidence in clearing.
The others, however, were fair game.
After some deliberation, Johan made his decision.
"We'll tackle the Battle Dome today."
The announcement made Jirachi spin with joy, its ribbons trailing in the air.
[Yay! Battle Dome! Let's go!]
The Most Dashing Duel
News spread quickly.
By the time Johan arrived at the Battle Dome, Scott was already there, accompanied by a full filming crew.
[Johan's Guide to the Battle Frontier] was live once again.
"Another early stream, huh?"
"Good morning, Johan!"
"Late start today? You're making up for it by clearing two facilities, right?"
Johan chuckled at the teasing comments in the chat.
"Morning, everyone," he greeted casually.
"Morning?! Pay your fines for being late!"
"Is that… the Battle Dome?!"
"Omg, I'm here in person! Johan looks even more handsome in real life!"
"How much for a selfie, mate? Let's split the profit!"
Johan couldn't help but laugh. Viewers will be viewers, no matter the world.
Scott, as expected, had outdone himself.
The Battle Dome was packed to capacity, with fans eager to watch Johan's next challenge.
Inside the opulent arena, cheers erupted as Johan stepped onto the battlefield.
He could feel the energy in the air — most of these people weren't here for the Battle Dome.
They were here for him.
Across the battlefield, a temporary stage had been set up.
Standing atop it was the Dome Ace, Tucker, in all his flamboyant glory.
Dressed in a dazzling purple outfit with elaborate twin ponytails, Tucker twirled dramatically, soaking in the crowd's adoration.
"Listen to those cheers, Johan!" Tucker called out, his voice dripping with theatrics.
"Today, we're about to witness the ultimate showdown: the duel between the most dashing trainers in the Pokémon world!"
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Powerstones?
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