"Have you heard? A ridiculously strong rookie has emerged in this year's Kanto Championship League—he might even claim a spot among the Elite Four."
"I'm not too sure about that. Wasn't it said that Wulfric is set to be promoted to the Elite Four this year?"
"You must be out of the loop. Since Lance has already been promoted to Champion, a vacancy opened up in the Elite Four. Based on the rankings, Wulfric, who was originally ranked fifth, should have been next in line. However, a newcomer has recently appeared, racking up fifteen consecutive victories and now sharing the same points as Wulfric."
Inside the grand venue of the Indigo Plateau tournament, where the Championship Conference—one tier above the regional leagues—was taking place, over thirty top trainers had gathered. These participants were all previous regional champions, and they weren't limited to just the Kanto region.
The newcomer everyone was talking about was said to hail from another region. After winning the Indigo Conference, he continued his streak with fifteen straight victories in the Championship Conference, bringing his points level with Wulfric. Today, the two would face off, and the winner would claim the vacant Elite Four position for the upcoming season.
"I remember Wulfric has been focusing on Water-types. What about this newcomer?"
According to League regulations, an Elite Four member must have at least four Pokémon of the same type, while the remaining two could be of any choice. This rule was the reason for titles like the Ice-type Elite Four, the Ghost-type Elite Four, and so on.
Hearing the question, one of the spectators quickly browsed through official records and found the answer. "His specialization is Sandstorm-based teams."
"A weather specialist? That's rare. So he mainly uses Steel, Rock, and Ground-types."
As the discussion continued, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers. On the main stage, the current Elite Four— Ice-type expert Lorelei, Fighting-type powerhouse Bruno, and Ghost-type tactician Agatha—sat in their seats, clearly interested in the outcome of this battle.
"Now that we have five Elite Four members assembled, it's time to prepare for the bigger stage. I just hope the fifth member doesn't drag us down," Bruno remarked coldly, his gaze sweeping over the battlefield below with a hint of arrogance. The other Elite Four members nodded in agreement.
The power gap between the current Elite Four and the challengers ranked below them was vast. So far, no one had managed to truly stand on equal footing with them. However, with the upcoming Super Cup drawing near, every region had to send its Champion and Elite Four representatives, making this year's Indigo Plateau Championship all the more crucial.
In the waiting area, Wulfric—dressed in a scholar-like white outfit—nervously glanced at Lorelei on the stage. The real reason he had chosen to specialize in Water-types was to get closer to her.
He had assumed his promotion to Water-type Elite Four was a sure thing. But now, this unexpected newcomer had thrown everything into question. Clenching his fists, Wulfric turned his gaze toward his opponent—a young trainer standing in the adjacent waiting area.
This youth, despite his age, had a sharp and composed look in his eyes. Wulfric was confident in his type advantage and his superior experience in major tournaments. He firmly believed that victory would be his.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today marks the most thrilling and decisive battle of the Kanto Championship Conference! The winner of this match will officially claim the fourth Elite Four seat for the upcoming season, based on their accumulated points!"
Had Lance not been promoted, the winner would have had to challenge the lowest-ranked Elite Four member for their spot. But with Lance moving up, this battle directly determined the new Elite Four member.
The match would follow a 3v3 format—a more strategic contest compared to the full 6v6 battles, testing a trainer's ability to command their Pokémon with precision.
With a deafening boom, fireworks exploded above the stadium as the two competing trainers stepped onto the grand battlefield.
As Wulfric entered the arena, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. With his refined demeanor and elegant Water-type style, he had long been a fan favorite. Compared to the aggressive newcomer, many spectators hoped to see Wulfric's years of hard work finally pay off with a well-earned promotion.
On the opposite side of the stage, Wulfric's opponent—the dark horse of this tournament—finally made his appearance. He was Klein, a trainer from Aspertia City in the Unova region.
Dressed in light blue attire, his brown hair complemented his delicate yet sharp features. His eyes, however, remained calm and indifferent, as if everything happening around him was of little concern. Yet, the aura he exuded was sharp—like a drawn blade, poised to strike.
Wulfric, composed and reserved. Klein, fierce and commanding. When their gazes met, sparks of tension filled the air.
"Psyduck!"
"Swampert!"
The first Pokémon from both trainers appeared on the battlefield, drawing gasps from the crowd. Wulfric had chosen Psyduck to counter Klein's team, but to his surprise, Klein sent out Swampert—a Water/Ground-type Pokémon.
Swampert, the evolved form of Marshtomp, was known for its immense strength, capable of easily moving boulders over a ton in weight. It could also sense approaching storms with its whiskers and had exceptional vision even in murky waters.
Fifteen years had passed since Klein arrived in this world. As he rubbed his eyes and looked around the massive stage, his heart burned with excitement. He had traveled across multiple regions, honing his skills for this very moment.
Only by becoming an Elite Four member could he challenge the world's true powerhouses and climb to the very peak of Pokémon battles.
"Psyduck, use Hydro Pump!"
A raging torrent of water shot from Psyduck's beak, forming a massive stream aimed directly at Swampert.
Without waiting for a command, Swampert clenched its fists, its muscles tensing. With a single punch to the ground, it shattered the battlefield, sending debris flying. The Hydro Pump crashed into the scattered rocks, its force significantly reduced.
Moves were just one part of battle tactics. Speed, reaction time, and adaptability were equally crucial. Klein's Swampert had instinctively devised its own defense, demonstrating a level of training far beyond Wulfric's expectations.
"Keep firing Hydro Pump!"
Another surge of water blasted toward Swampert, but the bulky Pokémon swiftly dodged, maneuvering around the attacks with surprising agility.
The frequent use of Hydro Pump with no effective results left Wulfric frustrated. Sensing an opportunity, Klein issued his first command.
"Ice Punch—freeze the battlefield."
Swampert's fist began radiating an intense chill, instantly freezing the water-covered battlefield. As Psyduck struggled to adjust, Swampert shattered the frozen ground with another punch, sending an explosion of ice shards flying.
Psyduck tried to retreat, but before it could react, Swampert had already appeared behind it, its fist glowing with energy.
With a powerful strike to Psyduck's neck, a loud boom echoed through the arena. Psyduck was sent flying, but Swampert wasn't finished. It let out a roar and lunged forward, grabbing the disoriented Psyduck and slamming it forcefully into the ground.
Throughout the battle, Swampert had only used Ice Punch as an actual move. The rest of its attacks were pure, raw physical force. Even so, Psyduck couldn't withstand the onslaught and was decisively defeated.
"Psyduck is unable to battle! Swampert wins!"
Wulfric's face darkened. He had never expected this fifteen-year-old's battle style to be so brutally direct.
"How crude! Battles shouldn't be this barbaric!"
"Do Hoenn Pokémon only rely on brute force?"
Some spectators voiced their dissatisfaction. They had anticipated an intense, strategic match but instead watched as Swampert overpowered Psyduck with sheer strength.
Klein sighed. Did these people think they were watching a Contest?
On the Elite Four's platform, Bruno narrowed his eyes. "This kid has fought more than just tournament battles—he's been in real life-or-death fights."
Lorelei adjusted her glasses. "He may not have used any Fighting-type moves, but... he certainly feels like another Fighting-type Elite Four."