The battle between Dylan and Yellow had come to an end.
Although the final score was 2–6, to be honest, the audience felt extremely satisfied watching it.
After all, the matchup itself was fascinating—Yellow was Dylan's disciple, making it a true master–disciple showdown.
And Dylan's Drapion and Sneasler left incredibly deep impressions.
Some people had even started searching online for where Drapion and Sneasler could be caught.
Next came a half-hour break, followed by the final match of the quarterfinals—
the last battle to decide the Top Four.
Giovanni vs. Gloria!
"Kanto's top Elite Four versus Galar's 'monster'… Gloria might be in trouble. That Giovanni is seriously strong."
"Believe in Gloria! Otherwise—damn it! Kanto will completely sweep the Top Four!"
"I used to think 'Kanto being the strongest region' was just talk. Now I finally get it…"
"No, no—before last year, Kanto was strong, sure, but not this outrageous!"
"Champion Giovanni is guaranteed to win! Hahaha!"
In livestream chats and forums, countless discussions erupted.
Many fans from other regions couldn't help complaining.
The situation was simply too clear.
Three of the Top Four were already decided:
Kanto Champion Dylan, Kanto Elite Four Red, and Kanto Elite Four Selene.
If Giovanni defeated Gloria and advanced, then the Top Four would be completely monopolized by Kanto's Champion and Elite Four.
…How absurd was that?
This was the World Championships, gathering the strongest trainers from across the globe—and yet Kanto alone stood head and shoulders above everyone else?
"Hahaha! These guys really aren't giving you any face at all—my apologies, everyone. Tonight I'll have a serious talk with them."
Inside the Indigo Plateau Stadium's office, Chairman Goodshow laughed heartily into a video call.
On the other end were Rose and the League Chairmen from various regions.
At this moment, every chairman wore stiff, forced smiles. Even Rose was barely holding it together—Goodshow's smug expression was downright infuriating.
What kind of person was this?! Disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!!
But there was nothing they could do.
Kanto's performance this year was simply too dominant.
All they could hope for now was that Gloria would step up, eliminate Giovanni, and squeeze into the Top Four.
"I wonder if you chairmen have time to come watch the next matches in person? I'll personally host you all."
Goodshow didn't care one bit about their dark, sour expressions.
It felt amazing. Absolutely amazing!
He'd never felt this good in his entire life.
Even though the League Chairmen had no grudges between them, and the Pokémon Leagues were supposed to stand united—
there was nothing sweeter than showing off.
This was his Kanto League.
"Ah, year-end work is piling up. I'm pretty busy—maybe next time."
"Chairman France is right. Too much going on at the end of the year."
"Yes, yes, what a shame. Next time, surely."
The chairmen all declined in unison.
They weren't idiots—why would they go to Kanto just to feel miserable?
Still, watching Goodshow's smug old face made their blood boil.
Damn it—we have to poach talent!
Steal all of Kanto's trainers and see how smug you are next year!
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
"Excellent! Both trainers are ready. Now—let's welcome them with a round of applause!"
"Giovanni!"
"Gloria!"
The slick-haired host's voice rang across the entire stadium.
From the tunnels on either side of the arena, two figures slowly emerged.
Giovanni and Gloria.
"WOOO—!!"
"Come on, Gloria! You're Galar's last hope!!"
"Champion Giovanni, go! Kanto's strongest Elite Four will win!"
"Haha, even Champion Lance couldn't beat Giovanni—how could some little girl stand a chance?"
"Giovanni will win! Mark my words!"
The stadium erupted.
Although many fans from other regions were rooting for Gloria, desperate to stop Kanto's total domination—
This was Kanto's home turf.
Naturally, far more people were cheering for Giovanni.
But none of that affected the two on the field.
Giovanni, still in his immaculate black suit, adjusted his tie with one hand in his pocket. Calm, confident, and composed—his presence alone was striking.
Of course, he didn't underestimate his opponent.
He carefully observed her.
Gloria—Galar's most outstanding "monster" this year.
No—truth be told, the signs were already there last year.
She had surpassed Hop, Marnie, and a prodigy named Bede, becoming the most brilliant rookie, and even challenged Leon in the Galar Champion Cup.
At the time, she still lacked experience and ultimately lost to Leon.
Yet even Leon publicly admitted that Gloria's talent surpassed his own at the same age.
Without a doubt, Gloria was Galar's next Leon—
perhaps even someone destined to surpass him.
There were even rumors that her current strength was already on par with Leon's—maybe even greater.
But so what?
Giovanni's lips curved slightly.
Geniuses? Monsters?
He'd seen too many of them.
Red, Blue, Selene, Yellow—even his own son, Silver—
which one of them wasn't a "monster"?
Giovanni acknowledged it: these youths were loved by the world itself.
Sooner or later, this would be their era.
But… not yet.
He wasn't old yet.
Gloria studied the head of Kanto's Elite Four with curiosity.
Her first impression was powerful.
This man's aura was extraordinary—just looking at him, you could feel it. He was no ordinary person.
Her eyes gradually lit up with excitement.
Fighting him would definitely be fun!
The referee entered and announced the rules.
On the giant screen, the pointer spun—then stopped on Giovanni.
Giovanni had the first move.
He chuckled softly, twirling a Poké Ball in his hand as he looked at Gloria.
She looked clean and pretty—hard to imagine she was one of Galar's strongest trainers.
"Gloria, calling you that should be fine, right?"
"Of course, Senior Giovanni."
She was very polite. In age and experience alike, Giovanni was undoubtedly her senior.
"Though I regret having to compete with a junior for advancement, this is the arena.
If you want to move forward—prove it with your strength."
"Of course," Gloria smiled brightly, confidence shining in her eyes.
"I won't give up this spot to you."
"I'm going to defeat you."
"Oh? Ambitious. But turning that into reality won't be easy."
Giovanni smiled faintly and opened his Poké Ball.
"First—you'll have to get past this."
A low, violent roar echoed out.
A paradox Pokémon from ancient times slammed down in front of Giovanni, golden eyes blazing with savage power.
"Great Tusk?"
Gloria instantly recognized it. After all, it had become one of Giovanni's signature Pokémon.
An ancient Paradox Pokémon—Great Tusk.
"Then please experience my power firsthand, Senior Giovanni!"
Gloria wasn't intimidated by Great Tusk's ferocity—instead, her smile grew brighter.
"I'm a trainer who will surpass Champion Leon!
I will restore Galar's glory!"
Her voice wasn't loud—but the conviction behind it was unmistakable.
Leon had fallen.
But she hadn't.
"Oh?" Giovanni grew interested.
Galar's glory?
Sorry—but today, that glory won't be restored.
Giovanni's lips curved almost imperceptibly upward.
Still, as a senior, he chose not to crush her spirit outright.
"Dracovish!"
Gloria threw her Poké Ball with force.
The ball opened midair, releasing a Pokémon with an extremely bizarre appearance.
Why bizarre?
Because it had an enormous head—
and a body that looked like a tail.
No, not looked like—it was a tail.
Its head was literally attached to the end of it, like mismatched fossils stitched together.
This was Dracovish, revived from the fossils of a Fish and a Dragon.
"Beep—Dracovish. Water/Dragon type. Fossil Pokémon.
Ability: Strong Jaw.
Moves: Dragon Rush, Fishious Rend, Crunch, Liquidation, Psychic Fangs…
Description: With its exceptional leg strength and jaw power, it was once invincible in ancient times—but it hunted its prey to extinction, and perished as well."
"Eugh—this Pokémon really looks… abstract."
Leaf rubbed her arms, goosebumps rising. That design was way too weird.
Hearing that, Lillie blinked.
She kind of felt the same—but honestly, looking at Dracovish's dopey eyes, she found it oddly ugly-cute.
"Abstract, yes—but Dracovish is extremely strong," Dylan chuckled.
How could Dracovish not be cool?
Its appearance might not fit conventional aesthetics—but its strength was absolutely top-tier.
Strong Jaw massively boosted biting moves, and Dracovish had several of them—
especially its pseudo-signature move, Fishious Rend.
"That's true. Dylan, do you think Gloria can beat Giovanni?" Leaf asked curiously.
"No way," Blue replied casually, legs crossed and munching on seeds.
"Giovanni's the head of the Elite Four, after all."
He'd heard Gloria's declaration earlier—and found it amusing.
Restoring glory?
If he hadn't already been eliminated, he'd beat Galar's 'glory' down to a faint glow.
Hmph.