Draconia - National Pokemon Stadium
Under brilliant blue skies with all eyes watching, John's coronation ceremony commenced at the National Pokemon Stadium.
This time, it was a genuine coronation.
The crowning of an Elite Four member could only be considered a blessing ceremony, after all, there was still someone stronger above them. But the investiture of a champion represented the ultimate mark: "the strongest."
The strongest in all of Draconia!
The president of the Trainer Association handed over the 'Dragon Seal' symbolizing Draconia's championship to John with ceremonial gravity.
Unlike the "seal" granted to Elite Four members, the champion's seal differed not only in name but in its very essence. Where Elite seals bore the engravings of powerful Pokemon, the Dragon Seal featured legendary creatures exclusively.
When John had achieved Elite status, his Seal had been engraved with a Garchomp. Now, as champion, his new Dragon Seal bore the image of Rayquaza.
The legendary sky serpent coiled around the seal's surface in a fearsome roar, radiating power and authority.
This had been John's personal choice. While Elite seals were passed down through generations, champion seals were custom-crafted. Since John could select the design, he naturally chose Rayquaza, the coolest pokemon ever, in his own, totally unbiased opinion.
Rumor had it that when Magnus Valestrum became champion, he had requested Reshiram to be engraved on his Dragon Seal.
"From this day forward, John is the new champion of Draconia!"
At the Trainer Association president's announcement, the entire National Pokemon Stadium erupted in thunderous applause for John.
The sound was deafening, like mountains roaring and tsunamis crashing.
The last time it had been this lively... well, champion coronations were indeed more spectacular than Elite Four ceremonies.
In the VIP section, a gathering of distinguished seniors was present, with John's mentor Saul Badman standing prominently among them.
He watched John with profound satisfaction and pride.
Looking back on his entire career, accepting a student like John was probably his greatest accomplishment. He remembered that initial moment, just a small act of kindness, the sort he would have shown any academy student who needed help. He never imagined he would end up mentoring a champion.
Moreover, a genius-level disciple who had shattered the country records and even world records.
The trio of Victor, Damian, and Riley also stood applauding John's achievement.
"At first, I thought John was perhaps a bit arrogant," Victor, admitted, taking a thoughtful puff from his pipe. "I didn't expect that I was the one looking at the sky from the bottom of a well."
Riley nodded in agreement with Victor,'s assessment.
In the John versus Magnus duel, most observers had initially favored Magnus. Who could have predicted that John was truly that formidable?
"By the way, is Magnus willing to join the Elite Four?" Riley suddenly remembered something important.
After a champion is defeated, they have the option to replace one of the Elite Four members, giving them a potential path back to championship contention.
"How could someone that proud ever agree to such a thing?" Victor replied without hesitation.
"You're absolutely right." Riley considered Magnus's personality and agreed it was impossible he would choose to step down to Elite Four status. "Then I should notify Damon soon and have him prepare to assume the Elite position now that John has become champion."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Victor snorted, turning to the unusually quiet Damian. "Hey, Damian, don't you have some promising junior who's currently the top-ranked Gym Leader? Maybe have them compete, Damon might not even be able to beat them."
Damian didn't respond to Peng Dou's suggestion.
He hadn't heard it at all, because his eyes and attention were completely focused on his phone screen.
A news article was triggering countless associations in his mind.
Pokemon Expedition Team Daily: Recently, a massive Pokemon shrouded in mist was discovered on the ... Plateau. Based on footprint analysis and surrounding evidence, it is suspected to be the legendary Pokemon Volcanion.
Meanwhile, on the stage...
John raised his hand to acknowledge the audience's support and respond to his fans' enthusiasm.
Then, turning back to the Trainer Association president, he asked casually, "Chairman, if I wanted to step down from the champion position, how would I apply? What kind of process would that involve?"
The Trainer Association President: ???
The championship seat wasn't even warm yet, and he was asking about resignation procedures?
"Uh, there's no precedent for a champion voluntarily resigning from the position..."
"No precedent?" John frowned thoughtfully. "Then what if I wanted to establish that precedent?"
The president began sweating nervously. Did all geniuses have such eccentric temperaments?
You've just become champion and you're already talking about retirement, why did you even want the position in the first place?
Just for the Dragon Seal and champion title?
That was about one-third correct.
If John knew what the association president was thinking, he would have confirmed it.
The Dragon Seal was incredibly beautiful perfect as home decoration, and when he got old, he could brag to his grandchildren, "Grandpa was Draconia's champion back in the day!"
The other two-thirds involved the direct qualification for the World Pokemon Tournament's Master Eight, plus the exclusive benefits each champion received, including access to ten legendary Pokemon-related items.
The association president breathed a sigh of relief, assuming John was just asking hypothetically. He tried to consider such a scenario seriously before replying, "Basically, something as significant as a champion's resignation would require extensive committee meetings and discussions."
John's true motivation was simple, he wanted to enjoy being Draconia's champion, but felt that competing through World Pokemon Tournament qualifiers would be tedious. Those qualifiers alone lasted at least a month.
The president looked puzzled again.
The World Pokemon Tournament would begin in the second half of the year, with competition lasting approximately two to three months.
To resign, they would need to wait at least until after the World Pokemon Tournament concluded.
And it would still be hot summer weather.
With that time available, wouldn't it be better to stay home with air conditioning, playing games that could somehow make you stronger?
"Then please expedite those meetings," John said with his characteristic lazy demeanor. He felt he shouldn't cause unnecessary trouble for the country. Dealing with Elite Four responsibilities had been exhausting enough, championship duties would be even worse.
"How long would this entire process take?" John asked, frowning slightly.
"At least six months," the association president replied somewhat absently.
"Are you truly planning to step down immediately?" the president asked for confirmation.
"No," John waved his hand dismissively.
"Six months?" John calculated the timeline mentally. That was almost exactly when he would finish competing in the World Pokemon Tournament .
"After all, this involves transferring champion responsibilities, personnel transitions, successor selection, and numerous other considerations," the president explained.
As for actually being champion... well, that was a different matter entirely.