"Hey~ Master Mustard, please go easy on me today, okay?"
The sweet and lively girl smiled with bright eyes, her tone crisp and teasing.
"I've always respected strong veterans like you!"
"Old man like me doesn't deserve that kind of praise, you know~"
Mustard waved a hand modestly, chuckling good-naturedly.
"But your ranking isn't exactly low, Master Mustard. You've still got quite the fight in you."
Selene tilted her head skeptically. She didn't believe that for a second—he might look old and gentle, but rankings didn't lie.
This wasn't the early days of the World Championships anymore. The weak were quickly eliminated, and only the strong stayed near the top.
Take Alder, for example—he'd originally been in the top fifteen, but now he'd fallen out of the top twenty altogether.
Meanwhile, Mustard was still sitting at number fifteen. That said everything.
"I hope you'll show me what the once 'Strongest Champion' of Galar can really do."
Before challenging Mustard, Selene had thoroughly researched his background.
Once hailed as the Greatest Champion in History, Mustard had reigned undefeated for eighteen years straight—a record that still hadn't been broken.
A living legend who had once dominated the entire Galar region.
"Those are old stories now~ no need to bring them up," Mustard replied casually, smiling with humility.
"But you—since you're Dylan's student, how about letting this old man see just how strong his disciple has become~?"
"Dylan?"
Selene blinked. Dylan? Did he mean her gym leader mentor?
Pfft—she almost couldn't stop herself from laughing.
"Of course, Master Mustard! I'm Dylan's true disciple, after all!"
Holding back her giggles, she confidently thumped her chest, her bright eyes brimming with pride.
"The battle will now begin! The challenger—Selene from the Kanto region! The defender—Mustard from Galar!"
"The battle format is 6 vs 6! Both sides may use two forms of enhancement. The match ends when one side's six Pokémon are all unable to battle!"
"Begin!"
The referee bowed politely to both trainers before stepping aside.
On the massive screen, the portraits of Selene and Mustard appeared on opposite sides. The pointer spun rapidly—then landed on Selene's side.
"Ohh~ looks like I go first!"
Smiling brightly, Selene slipped on a pair of silk gloves and flexed her fingers.
"Well then, Master Mustard, ready yourself! I'm coming at you!"
Her gaze sharpened, the air around her shifting as she tossed a Poké Ball into the air.
Gone was the soft, cute demeanor—replaced by the aura of a determined fighter.
"Ohh~ not bad at all~"
Mustard's eyes gleamed. Yes, that's the spirit I wanted to see.
"And it's only going to get better! No matter who stands in my way—I'm going to become Champion!"
Selene spun and threw her first Poké Ball.
"No matter who it is! Anyone blocking my path to the top—I'll take them down!"
"My first partner—it's you!"
"Incineroar!"
A ferocious roar shook the arena as the towering, muscular tiger landed, spreading its arms with a menacing glare toward Mustard.
"Incineroar, huh? What power…"
Mustard's brow twitched slightly. That Incineroar was no ordinary one—its aura alone was intimidating.
But then a grin spread across his face. His fighting spirit was fully ignited.
"Hahaha! That's exactly why I joined this World Championship in the first place!"
He unzipped his green jacket, folded it neatly, and set it aside.
Underneath, he wore a yellow vest bearing the same sword-and-shield emblem as Leon's outfit, paired with loose gray pants.
"With an opponent like this, even an old man like me can't help but get fired up~!"
"Well then… it's my turn!"
Mustard spread his legs into a fighting stance, one arm pointed forward, the other cocked back—a signature pose that radiated confidence.
"Mienshao!"
A flash of white light—his Mienshao appeared, graceful yet fierce, settling into a combat stance and glaring at Incineroar.
"Incineroar!"
Selene gave a sharp command.
Incineroar bellowed at Mienshao, unleashing its Intimidate!
But Mienshao stood utterly unfazed, eyes unwavering.
"Tch—Inner Focus, huh? That's annoying."
Selene clicked her tongue. Of course—it was the Inner Focus ability.
A Pokémon with that trait never flinched or wavered in spirit, immune to Intimidate's effects.
Which meant Incineroar's Fake Out tactic wouldn't work either.
In the stands—
"Master Mustard seems quite fired up. It's been a while since I've seen that expression on him," Leon said with a nostalgic smile.
"Not surprising," Dylan replied calmly. "Mustard's strong—but after retiring to the Isle of Armor, he probably hasn't had many even matches."
Mustard had always been a warrior at heart. But ever since stepping down, he'd rarely battled seriously again.
Even Leon, though stronger now, was too busy (and too directionally challenged) to make the trip for a proper duel.
"True," Leon nodded. "This World Championship's a great chance for him."
"Though I'm not sure Selene can handle him," Wallace said, stroking his chin before glancing toward Dylan.
They didn't know Selene's true power—but Dylan certainly did.
"We'll see soon enough," Dylan said with a faint smile.
On the field—
"Incineroar, Parting Shot!"
Selene didn't waste time trading blows.
Incineroar hurled a mocking roar at Mienshao before vanishing into light, returning to its ball and leaving Mienshao's stats lowered.
"Debuffing, huh?" Mustard chuckled. "Classic Incineroar strategy. Figures."
He'd expected as much the moment he saw it.
"Gengar!"
Selene swiftly sent out her ace.
The grinning ghost appeared—then Selene raised her hand. The Key Stone on her glove gleamed brilliantly.
Mega Evolution!
As the light faded, Mega Gengar hovered in the air, exuding eerie menace.
"Going Mega right off the bat?"
Wallace blinked. "That's rare. Most trainers save it as a trump card."
"Selene doesn't fight the usual way," Lillie said softly, smiling faintly.
Opening with her ace, then switching and Mega Evolving—that was pure chaos.
But Lillie wasn't surprised. Selene had used the same unorthodox approach when challenging the Rota Gym.
Besides, an early Mega Gengar made sense—its Shadow Tag could easily trap opponents.
"Hah… this might be tricky~"
Mustard frowned slightly. He knew exactly what that ability meant.
Still, his Mienshao knew U-turn—if it could land a hit, it could escape.
But it wasn't that simple. U-turn only worked if it connected.
If Mega Gengar dodged, Mienshao would be stuck.
Mustard ordered Mienshao to dig underground with Dig to both evade and counterattack.
But Selene had no intention of attacking head-on.
Mega Gengar floated upward, a ghostly nail materializing before it—shrouded in dark mist.
A Ghost-type move—Curse!
Mustard's eyes widened. "Wait—she's using Curse right after Mega Evolving?!"
Who on earth had taught her to fight like that?!
"Mienshao, stop it!" he barked.
Too late. The cursed nail plunged into Gengar's body, and a sinister energy shot into Mienshao.
The curse took hold instantly.
Mienshao froze mid-motion, its expression twisting in pain as it crashed to the ground, overwhelmed by the dark energy.
"Gyaaahahaha~!"
Mega Gengar cackled gleefully, showing no sign of pain despite its self-inflicted wound. It loved cursing others.
Selene's once-innocent face mirrored that same devilish grin.
"Mienshao, U-turn—now!"
Mustard barked the command.
If it was cursed, it had to retreat quickly or it'd be finished!
"Encore!" Selene's smile widened.
As Mienshao tried to leap up, Mega Gengar shot forward like a phantom, clapping mockingly with a distorted giggle.
A strange wave pulsed from its hands—Mienshao froze again.
It couldn't use U-turn anymore.
Mustard's eyes bulged. "No way!"
Encore had locked Mienshao into its last move—Dig.
But digging was useless against a floating Mega Gengar—meaning Mienshao was doomed to take curse damage until it fainted.
"This… this is a death trap!"
There was nothing he could do—his Mienshao would be cursed to oblivion.
The match had barely begun, and Mustard was already sweating bullets.
In the stands—
"That's just evil. Is she even human? Poor Master Mustard," Dylan said, shaking his head in mock sympathy.
Wallace and the others all turned toward him with odd, conflicted looks.
"…What? Why are you all staring at me like that?" Dylan's eyelid twitched.
(End of Chapter)