"So this is the challenger facing Chairwoman Geeta today, huh?"
Nemona's gaze quickly landed on Red, and her eyes immediately sparkled.
"…" Red.
"Hi! I'm Nemona, a student at Naranja Academy! I'm a pretty strong Trainer myself. Let's battle sometime, okay?"
Nemona jogged right up to Red, her bright eyes shining with excitement.
To her, battling was pure joy. As long as she could face a strong Trainer, all her worries vanished.
"…"
Red stayed silent, though a faint light flickered in his red eyes. He nodded slightly—he could sense it. Nemona shared that same love for battle that burned within him.
How fitting. He loved battling most of all.
"Good luck on your match against Chairwoman Geeta!"
Hearing Red's simple response, Nemona beamed and raised a fist in encouragement.
"Champion Nemona, shouldn't you be cheering for me instead?"
A calm, mature voice sounded from behind. Without anyone noticing, Geeta had appeared a short distance away.
"Haha~ Chairwoman Geeta's so strong, you don't need my cheering!"
Nemona rubbed the back of her head, smiling sheepishly.
It was true—she was Paldea's honorary Champion, part of the Paldea League itself. Naturally, she should've been cheering for Geeta in this match.
"But Red is very strong as well," Geeta said with her usual warm, graceful smile. "I can't say I'm confident."
"Eh? Really?" Nemona blinked in surprise.
She had already battled Geeta twice—once the year before last, and once last year—and both times, she had managed to win.
But even then, Nemona could tell that Geeta hadn't fought her at full strength.
"Then after your battle with Chairwoman Geeta, fight me next, Red! I really, really want to battle a strong Trainer! Right, Juliana?"
Nemona's excitement overflowed as she nudged Juliana with her elbow.
For her, the result didn't matter—the fight did!
"Uh…"
Juliana gave an awkward look.
Dylan couldn't help but chuckle at Nemona's energy. Classic Nemona—so very Nemona.
"Hehe~ I understand how excited you are," Geeta said gently. "But as the hosts, we can't be rude. Save that for later, all right?"
"Okay," Nemona said, pouting a little.
"I've already prepared rooms for all of you to stay in. Dylan, everyone—please, come with me."
Since they were in Mesagoza, there was no need to stay in a hotel.
The prestigious Naranja Academy had more than enough dorm rooms—and it was a perfect chance to experience its culture firsthand.
Dylan had once attended an elite Pokémon academy in Kanto, but compared to Naranja, the difference in both history and faculty was vast.
Just how prestigious was Naranja Academy?
Well, its chairwoman was none other than Geeta, Paldea's top Champion, and the first of the Paldea Elite Four, Hassel, was its art teacher.
That alone said enough.
Even Steven and the others were staying on campus, which only boosted the academy's fame further.
Two days later—Mesagoza Battle Arena.
Every seat in the arena was packed, the air electric with excitement.
"This is the liveliest I've ever seen the arena—it's amazing!"
Juliana sat with her friends alongside Principal Clavell and the Naranja staff, looking around with wide eyes.
"You'll have your turn too one day," Clavell said with a warm smile. "And when that time comes, we'll be cheering for you."
He believed in both Juliana and Nemona—their talent and drive were undeniable. Someday, they would surpass even Chairwoman Geeta.
"Heh~ You've got good eyes, Principal. Of course we will!" Nemona said confidently, slinging an arm around Juliana's shoulder.
Clavell chuckled, pushing up his glasses.
As the announcer declared the Trainers' entrance, both Red and Geeta emerged from opposite tunnels, stepping into the bright, roaring arena.
Geeta wore her signature tailored suit—black with fine yellow streaks, her matching shoes polished to a mirror shine.
Red, on the other hand, was dressed in his familiar jeans, jacket, and cap.
The crowd erupted as they appeared.
"Let's go, Red! Beat her and claim the No.6 Master spot!"
"Chairwoman Geeta will crush him! Who does that Kanto Elite think we are—Unova or Kalos?!"
"Geeta! Show that Elite the true power gap between you!"
"Our Champion won't let us down!"
"Ha! That's what people said before Iris and Serena lost too!"
Even the livestream chat was chaos.
"That's the Red from Kanto? To challenge Geeta of all people… gutsy move."
A cheerful woman with a high ponytail—Raifort, the academy's battle instructor—watched curiously. "Impressive."
"Hassel, you're an Elite Four member too. Why don't you ever do that?" she teased the artistic man beside her with golden half-length hair.
"You give me too much credit. The Kanto Elite Four are on another level," Hassel said seriously.
"True," Miriam, the pink-haired, fair-skinned nurse said softly, propping her chin on her hand. "And Red's no ordinary Elite either—he even defeated Kalos's former Champion, Diantha."
"I wonder if Chairwoman Geeta can withstand this challenge," she added with a note of concern.
"She'll be fine! Even if she loses, it just means the opponent was stronger," Nemona said casually.
"It's not quite that simple," Clavell replied, frowning slightly.
After consecutive losses to Leon and Lance, Geeta's reputation—and Paldea's by extension—had already taken a hit.
If she lost again, Paldea's standing in the world would surely drop even further—perhaps to the level of Unova and Kalos, those "unfortunate siblings."
For someone as proud of Paldea as Clavell, the thought stung.
But there was nothing he could do now but hope Geeta would shine today.
On the field.
"The battle will now begin! The challenger—Red from the Kanto region! The defender—Chairwoman Geeta of Paldea!"
"The format: full battle, six versus six! Both Trainers may use two forms of power-up! The battle ends when one side's Pokémon are all unable to fight!"
"If the challenger wins, he will ascend in rank!"
"Begin!"
The referee announced the rules, bowed slightly, and stepped back.
Only Red and Geeta remained on the field.
The screen's pointer spun rapidly—landing on Geeta.
She would move first.
"So the time has finally come," Geeta said softly, still wearing her graceful smile as she raised her gloved hand, the Poké Ball expanding in her palm.
"Ever since the World Championships began, I've been expecting this day. You young Trainers are far too talented to stay in anyone's shadow for long."
Compared to her matches with Leon and Lance, this felt different.
They were her peers—Red was the new generation.
Red tilted his head slightly, the shadow of his cap hiding his eyes.
"As a senior, I take pride in seeing gifted, remarkable successors like you," Geeta said gently, placing a hand over her chest.
Then her tone shifted.
"But that alone isn't enough. Red—you'll have to defeat me first."
Her blue eyes locked onto him. Simply standing before her wasn't enough. That was only the beginning.
Red's eyes burned with quiet fire. He could feel it—her fighting spirit.
"All Trainers in Paldea strive to reach the Champion level. That's the shared dream across this land," Geeta declared, her voice rising.
"And I—Geeta, the Top Champion of Paldea—stand at the very peak of that dream!"
Her right hand lifted high, the Poké Ball gleaming in the light.
Yes—she was still Paldea's strongest Champion.
Even Nemona and Juliana, as talented as they were, hadn't surpassed her yet.
"Red, as one of Kanto's Elite Four—show me your strength and your talent!"
"Let us have a battle worthy of legends!"
With a smooth motion, Geeta threw her Poké Ball.
"My lead—Glimmora!"
White light flashed, and a cone-shaped Pokémon floated before her, unfurling like a crystalline flower.
"Glimmora, huh?"
Red's expression sharpened as he recognized the Rock- and Poison-type Pokémon.
"Blastoise!"
Without hesitation, Red sent out his partner. The massive turtle landed with a heavy thud, tilting its head and glaring menacingly at Glimmora.
"Opening with Glimmora—looks like Geeta's going all out," Dylan said from the stands with a faint smile.
"She'll have to. Red isn't an opponent you can take lightly," Steven added quietly.
"Dylan, do you think Red can beat her?" Leaf asked curiously, eyes fixed on the field.
"If you ask me," Dylan replied, "I'd say yes—Red will win."
"So confident?" Leaf tilted her head.
Geeta was one of the strongest Champions out there.
"Of course. Red's one of my Elite Four, after all." Dylan grinned.
"Well, if you're that sure, then I guess there's nothing to worry about," Leaf laughed.
She glanced from the maturing young man in the cap on the field to Dylan beside her—and her smile only grew sweeter.
Not bad at all. Her taste in people really was impeccable.
Back on the S.S. Anne, she had picked two true prodigies—both absolute legends.
(End of Chapter)