"Hey, have you heard? The Sinnoh Champion, Paul, has earned enough points to apply for the Masters Eight Rotation Tournament!"
"Ah! So it's finally happening?"
"I always thought he'd be the first to replace one of the Masters Eight. Shame he disappeared for a few months… but better late than never."
"Which one of the Masters do you think he'll challenge? Someone who's already rotated out? Or will he go after the unshaken titans—Cynthia or Leon?"
"If I were Paul, I'd do what Ash and Alain did—challenge a former champion again. If you start with Cynthia, you can hide your real strength for as long as possible."
"Nah. I think Paul will challenge Ash or Alain—settle it with a region-versus-region showdown. Decide this generation's strongest rising star."
"..."
Inside the Pokémon Center, a crowd of trainers gathered to gossip, each guessing which Master would soon be staring down Paul's challenge.
"Eh? Why doesn't anyone think he'll go after Leon?"
A young trainer asked the question everyone else avoided.
"Well… even if Leon lost the title of World's Strongest to Red, that battle was no easy win for Red. Based on the data we've seen, Leon's still the strongest among the Masters Eight—aside from Red himself."
"Exactly. All of Leon's Pokémon are extremely high-leveled. Even if you beat him, you'll have to reveal a lot of your trump cards. That could hurt you in the later rounds."
Another trainer scoffed.
"Aren't trainers supposed to challenge the strongest? So what if you reveal your hand? The more setbacks, the stronger you get!"
Everyone turned to him with the look reserved for fools.
"If you're clearly stronger than everyone else, then sure, you can be reckless. But in this Masters Eight, everyone's hiding their true power. If you show your cards too early, you'll get countered later."
"Right. Especially since the rules changed. Every match now is full 6-on-6, all-out battles—and trainers can use any battle system. Too many unpredictable factors."
"Exactly. That's why everyone's playing it safe…"
Suddenly, one trainer who'd been glued to his phone shouted,
"It's here! The challenger reveal—it's out!"
"Who is it? Tell us!"
But he froze just before the name, leaving the others twitching with impatience.
"It's… Leon."
He spoke the name in a daze.
"Haha, I told you—he'd go for Cynthia—wait… Leon?!"
"You serious?!"
"Look for yourself!"
Everyone crowded around the screen. There it was, plain as day: Paul's target was none other than Leon, ranked #2 in the Masters Eight.
Confusion rippled through the room. But one thing was clear, this was going to be a show worth watching.
...
Meanwhile, Paul sat in the Pokémon Center just outside Wyndon Stadium in Galar, scrolling through battle data.
On his screen appeared the profile of a dragonlike entity, a centipede-like serpent of poison and shadow that soared through the night sky—Eternatus.
To Paul, Galar itself wasn't much different from any other region. What caught his eye was Eternatus—the very source of Dynamax.
Paul wasn't particularly fond of Dynamax battles. But power was power. And Eternatus, especially in its Eternamax form, was one of the most overwhelming Pokémon in existence.
It was Eternatus that had caused the Darkest Day.
Yet strangely, after that single appearance, all information about it had vanished.
Rumors claimed that the legendary heroes of Galar had defeated it, and Leon himself had captured and sealed it. But after that… nothing.
Even when pressed in interviews, Leon only shook his head—insisting he had never captured Eternatus, nor had it acknowledged him.
The most recent whispers dated back months ago, when the skies over the Crown Tundra darkened with ominous energy, frighteningly similar to the Darkest Day.
Paul even asked Mew through his companion to search for traces of Eternatus. But after several attempts, Mew only shook its head. No trace.
Which meant one of two things: either Eternatus no longer existed in this world… or it had already been sealed within someone's Poké Ball.
And if the latter… who could it be? Even Leon's ownership couldn't be ruled out entirely.
Paul smirked.
"More and more interesting…"
Eternatus was an intriguing opponent. The simplest way to defeat it was to wield both Zacian and Zamazenta together.
But Paul wasn't interested in those "hero Pokémon." Nor in Calyrex or its steeds, Spectrier and Glastrier. He had no desire to catch legendaries just for the sake of collecting them.
If this were a video game, then sure—he'd gather all the kings and steeds. But this was reality.
The Masters Rotation Tournament rules required each trainer to bring six Pokémon, but only three would be used in battle. For Paul, bringing all his Pokémon would be unfair to those left behind.
After considering Leon's likely choices, Paul quickly finalized his team.
And just in case, he decided to bring Mewtwo, Groudon, and Deoxys. The rest he sent back to his daycare system.
(Leon: …What did I do to deserve this…?)
...
The day came at last. Wyndon Stadium was packed to bursting, the crowd was a sea of cheers.
"Clap your hands! Cheer with everything you've got!"
"The Masters Rotation Tournament begins now! Both competitors are among the world's strongest Trainers, each with overwhelming power!"
"In the red corner—Sinnoh's Champion, Paul!"
"And in the blue corner—our very own Galar Champion, Leon!"
The roar of the crowd shook the arena. Naturally, local support leaned toward Leon, but Paul had his fair share of fans worldwide. Trainers everywhere tuned into the broadcast—among them, the other Masters.
"Paul," Leon said warmly, flicking his sponsor-clad cape. "This is our first battle. You're the hottest new star in the world right now. Let's make it a match with no regrets!"
"…I won't have regrets." Paul replied calmly. Though inwardly, he thought: But you might.
"The rules are three-on-three. When all three of one Trainer's Pokémon are unable to continue, the other will be announced victorious. Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
"Go—Rillaboom!"
"Your turn—Froslass!"
Both Poké Balls burst open—one revealing a hulking gorilla pounding a massive drum, the other a ghostly maiden laughing behind her icy sleeve.
"Battle… begin!"
The referee's call had barely fallen before Paul's voice cut across the arena.
"Mean Look!"
Still smiling faintly, Froslass unleashed a sinister and inky eye that opened behind her—its eerie gaze freezing Rillaboom in place. Instantly, the drum-wielding gorilla lost all chance of retreat.
"Wh—what…?"
Leon, Poké Ball in hand and ready to recall his Rillaboom, froze in shock. He hadn't expected Paul and his Froslass to move with such speed.
Rillaboom was powerful—its raw strength was enough to contend with even Leon's ace, Charizard, in a battle unconcerned with type matchups. But sheer strength meant nothing if you couldn't hit your opponent.
And Froslass was Paul's quintessential tactical Pokémon. Master of illusions, disruption, and debilitating techniques—battling her was a nightmare. Unless you had a Legendary on your side, you'd almost always be forced into a one-for-one trade by her Destiny Bond.
Leon had planned for this. If Paul sent out Froslass, he would switch her out immediately with Dragapult. But now…
"…Well, it's not completely hopeless."
"Use Boomburst through Snarl!"
Rillaboom raised its wooden club and pounded its stump-drum. A wave of explosive sound roared outward, dark energy woven into the shockwaves, shaking the entire stadium.
It was a scattershot attack—indiscriminate, but perfect for flushing out Froslass' true form.
But before the sonic barrage could strike, Paul had already recalled Froslass into her Poké Ball. Without hesitation, he hurled another ball forward.
"Infernape, to the field."
"Waa-cha!"
With a battle cry burning with resolve, Infernape landed on the arena floor. A sharp grin tugged at its lips as it glared at Rillaboom.
Paul exhaled two simple words.
"Mad Monkey."
"Waa-cha—AHH!"
At once, Infernape's expression twisted. The sunny and confident fighter was gone—replaced by a snarling beast, eyes blazing red with rage. Its fists clenched tight as searing fury erupted above its crown, igniting into a towering inferno.
The flames surged higher, molding themselves into a spectral form—a half-bodied avatar of a gigantic Infernape, over ten meters tall.
The transformation seemed to last an eternity. In truth, it was instantaneous.
"What is that?!"
Leon's eyes widened.
But the fiery apparition had no patience for explanations. The moment it fully took shape, the Infernal Ape swung its colossal fist down toward Rillaboom.
"Giga Impact!" Leon shouted.
Rillaboom hurled its drum aside and charged headlong at the fiery titan's host body below, unleashing every ounce of its might.
But the phantom ape tilted its swing, intercepting the gorilla mid-charge.
The clash detonated in a thunderous explosion. Smoke engulfed Rillaboom, swallowing its frame whole.
The flaming avatar remained. Without pause, it clasped its fiery hands together and smashed them down into the smoke. The force alone blew the haze apart.
"BOOM!!"
For a fleeting instant, the crowd glimpsed Rillaboom—once proud and powerful, now sprawled on the ground, barely clinging to consciousness.
The phantom's second strike showed no mercy. The blazing fists crashed down, another explosion shaking the field. And then, as suddenly as it had appeared, the fiery avatar dispersed into embers.
"Waa-cha~…"
Infernape, panting, slumped onto the ground cross-legged. With casual ease, it triggered the Slack Off technique it had learned from Ursaluna.
By the time the dust settled, Rillaboom lay unconscious. Infernape, however, had fully recovered its stamina.
"Rillaboom is unable to battle! Infernape is the winner!" The referee declared.
"…Well fought. Return."
Leon's expression tightened as he recalled his Pokémon. One of his top three battlers had been beaten down in just two punches. Even through his shock, he forced composure, clipping the ball to his belt.
"Your Pokémon are every bit as strong as I'd heard. Stronger than the footage suggested."
He offered the compliment earnestly before tossing out his next ball.
"Then let's see how you handle this! Go—Dragapult!"
The spectral dragon materialized, drifting like a phantom. Its triangular head stretched into winglike horns, each marked by two hollow launch ports. Nestled inside were twin Dreepy, peeking out like living ammunition. Its slender tail shimmered, fading into near-transparency.
"Dragon Darts!"
Leon's command rang out. Instantly, the twin Dreepy were launched from Dragapult's head like missiles, streaking toward Infernape at breakneck speed, weaving unpredictably.
"Catch them!"
Still seated cross-legged, Infernape waited. At the last moment, as the Dreepy closed in, it flipped backward into the air.
Dodging cleanly, it extended its blazing hands with lightning reflexes.
The tiny dragons blinked in confusion, suddenly trapped, unable to move—flames searing their scales.
"Use Flamethrower on them."
Paul wasn't aiming at Dragapult itself. The dragon was too fast, too elusive. Better to cripple its ammo first.
"Ha~!"
Grinning savagely, Infernape spewed fire directly into its grasp. The Dreepy shrieked as the flames consumed them.
Dragapult, mid-prep for a Draco Meteor bombardment, froze in panic. Abandoning the attack, it darted toward Infernape in a blur of speed—like a desperate parent shielding its young.
Infernape, still roasting the smaller dragons, kept its fiery eyes locked on Dragapult.
The instant Dragapult drew close, Infernape lunged upward—swinging its blazing fist, Dreepy still clutched tight, straight at the phantom dragon.
"Fwip!"
But at the last second, Dragapult vanished.
Phantom Force.
"Dragon Tail!"
Space rippled behind Infernape. With a green flash, Dragapult's spectral tail whipped across its back.
"BOOM!!"
"Waa?!"
Infernape's face twisted in surprise before its body dissolved into red light, forced back into its Poké Ball.
Dragon Tail—forced switch!
With Infernape gone, Dragapult quickly scooped up its battered Dreepy, returning them to the safety of its launch ports.
It barely had a chance to exhale before the battlefield's atmosphere changed entirely.
A heatwave erupted. The air itself ignited.
In an instant, the stadium's temperature soared by dozens of degrees. Even with protective energy barriers, the crowd broke into uncontrollable sweat.
Something far more terrifying than Infernape had entered the field.
(To be continued…)
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